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Design Classics: Ikea Nikolaus folding chair

I was going to give you a legendary piece of 1930s-modern Scandinavian furniture this week, costing £1,300 or so. And then I thought, no. Let’s do the other sort of Scandinavian. So this is a first for Design Classics — something from Ikea.

It’s not the cheapest thing we’ve ever done in this column, but at £28 it won’t break the bank. And the reason it’s here is that it is a good example of a timeless piece of space-saving design: the wooden folding chair.

How many students and young couples have bought these? Millions, probably, and for good reason: they’re cheap, tough and great for bedsits and small rooms. You can find them everywhere in all sorts of minor variations. So why this one? If £28 seems a bit steep for Ikea, be aware that it does a very basic, somewhat spindly version for just £9 as well. Nikolaus, as